Alan Hovhaness

In the year 2000, after Alan’s death, Hinako Fujihara-Hovhaness started writing poems, which was the only way she could cope with her great loss. They were written with her limited English, yet they were spontaneous and poignant, straight from her heart. After she had written hundreds of poems, it was not enough. Hinako started writing stories from my memories about Alan, events she had experienced with him.

To Hinako, “Alan was a master of counterpoint and an intellectual, yet he had many different sides to his personality, from being a polite, distinguished gentleman to a wild savage, idealistic, and old-fashioned man to sexy womanizer. He understood human nature and emotion, and I think that is why his music touches people’s hearts and is loved by them, even though his music is built on an intellectual foundation.”

She was born Hinako Fujihara on March 28, 1932, in Osaka, Japan, daughter of a Japanese father (Katsuji Fujihara) and a Korean mother (Jun Bokuhuku). Hinako’s father died of tuberculosis when she was two years old, and her mother raised Hinako and her sister while working as a dressmaker. 

When Hinako was seventeen, she had an interest in Koto (traditional Japanese string instrument), Japanese dance, ballet, vocal music, and piano. During the Korean War, she performed as a singer in a club for American soldiers, where she met the club manager, Peter Holst, who became her first husband.

They moved to Seattle, Washington, where they started a family of three children (June, Joni, and Bill).

While Hinako cared for the children, she also continued her studies as a singer; she performed in the Seattle Opera auxiliary chorus and as a church soloist. During a piano recital in 1974, she met Alan Hovhaness. After both Hinako and Alan went through divorces, they were married in 1977.

Once married, Hinako established Fujihara Music Company, Inc., which gave them full royalties and control of Alan’s new music. Later in July of 1980, Fujihara Music Company, Inc., transitioned to Hovhaness-Fujihara Music Company, Inc., with Hinako remaining president of the company.

After Alan’s death in June 2000, Hinako began writing short poems to her husband. Subsequently, her writings transitioned into documenting her travels and experiences with Alan.

Completing this book was Hinako’s final ambition. Unfortunately, due to health issues, she was not able to see it for herself. She passed on December 22, 2022. Her final word, as reported by the on-duty nurse the night before she passed, was “sayonara.”